Man who ‘killed’ girl, 5, airlifted from town after he was hunted by vigilantes | News World

The prime suspect in the kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old girl needed to be airlifted out of a distant Australian town for his own safety during an evening of rioting on the streets.

Jefferson Lewis, 47, was relocated after tons of of locals clashed with police demanding ‘payback’ for the killing of the indigenous teenager, referred to by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby.

Kumanjayi disappeared from a community camp in Alice Springs on Saturday night, sparking a days-long search on foot and by air that gripped much of the country.

After her body was found around three miles from the camp, police named Lewis as her suspected killer and urged him to give up.

He later handed himself in to Indigenous community members, who beat him unconscious while meting out ‘vigilante justice’.

In an update, Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Martin Dole told reporters: ‘He presented himself to considered one of the town camps in Alice Springs last night.

‘Consequently of presenting himself, members of that town camp decided to inflict vigilante justice upon Jefferson.’

When police and emergency services intervened, they too got here under attack before Lewis was taken to hospital, Mr Dole said.

He added that a big crowd of around 400 people gathered outside the hospital after which tried to force their way inside.

Footage from the ABC showed Indigenous people calling for ‘payback’, which refers to traditional, mostly physical, punishment in Aboriginal societies.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the group, who threw projectiles and lit fires, injuring quite a few law enforcement officials and medical employees, and damaging police vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks.

Mr Dole said: ‘We called out all of the resources we had available to quell that violent disturbance.

‘And just let me say that the behaviour that we saw last night can’t be explained away, excused or accepted.’

One woman was being investigated for allegedly attempting to set a police automotive alight.

Police said they removed Lewis for his safety from hospital to the Northern Territory capital of Darwin, where he was being held in custody.

He is anticipated to face charges in the approaching days.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he understood ‘people’s anger and frustration’ but urged the community to return together.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said Kumanjayi’s death was the realisation of ‘our worst nightmares’.

Nevertheless it was no excuse for violence, she said, recalling how the community had united to look for the missing child.

‘This week, we’ve seen this town come together like never before – tons of of individuals walking shoulder to shoulder through the long buffel grass, through the bush, to ensure that we left no stone unturned,’ Ms Finocchiaro said.

‘I don’t want last night to remove from that extraordinary effort.’

Robin Granites, a spokesman for the family and an elder of the Warlpiri Indigenous group, called for calm locally.

‘It’s time now for sorry business, to indicate respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering,’ he said in a press release.

‘We have to be strong for one another, we must respect family and cultural practice.’

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